AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 11: Sam Warburton of Wales looks on during the International Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Wales at Eden Park on June 11, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
By Alex Bywater
ELLIS Jenkins is the “heir apparent” to Sam Warburton and can be the driving force for Wales and Cardiff Blues for years to come says Martyn Williams.
Two-time British & Irish Lions captain and Wales ace Warburton shocked the rugby world by announcing his injury-enforced retirement aged just 29.
It leaves Wales head coach Warren Gatland with a huge void to fill ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Williams, who won 100 caps for Wales and saw Warburton take his international spot, believes the 25-year-old Jenkins is the man to fill the No.7 jersey.
“Ellis is the heir apparent. If you are looking at a similar sort of man to Sam in the way he plays and carries himself, then he is the one,” Williams told The Rugby Paper.
“I saw both Sam and Ellis come through the academy at the Blues and Ellis is someone you looked at from a young age and said he’s going to be a natural captain.
“For Sam, right, it was less obvious. Captaincy was thrust upon him. You knew how good a player he was going to be, but you weren’t sure about his captaincy.
“He went on to prove how good he was, but Ellis is exactly the same as Sam. He’s bright, articulate, and he knows the game inside out. They are very, very similar.
“For Sam to be Wales captain 49 times is amazing and if you look at all the traits of a possible long-term successor to him, then Ellis is the one.”